Montana·Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations·SOC 19-1029

Best Biological Scientist, All Other programs in Montana, ranked by enrollment

All biological scientists not listed.

12 schools in Montana run programs that feed this job, graduating 446 people a year. The job pays a median of $91,560 in Montana across about 550 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledBotanistBiologistScientistBioinformaticistMedical GeneticistResearch ScientistMolecular BiologistBioinformatics Scientist
Graduates / yr
446
in Montana
Median pay · Montana
$91,560
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
550
people employed
Schools
12
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
43%
across those schools
Median net price
$20,500
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Montana that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.01
Biology
253graduates / yr
10 schools · 1 specialization · 56.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.05
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
74graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 16.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,383
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.04
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
60graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 13.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,393
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
25graduates / yr
3 schools · 3 specializations · 5.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
17graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 3.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.12
Biotechnology
9graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 2.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $49,023
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.03
Botany/Plant Biology
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,009
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.07
Zoology/Animal Biology
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $28,266
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.99
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,278
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243

13 programs in Montana that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Montana (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Montana page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 26.0101In Montana
253
56.7%
10$32,152$25,000
2
CIP 26.0503In Montana
74
16.6%
1$38,383$22,065
3
CIP 26.0401In Montana
53
11.9%
1$35,393$19,961
4
CIP 26.1301In Montana
18
4.0%
3$29,460$23,480
5
CIP 26.1501In Montana
17
3.8%
1$31,687$22,936
6
CIP 26.1201In Montana
9
2.0%
2$49,023$21,309
7
CIP 26.0406In Montana
7
1.6%
2$35,393$19,961
8
CIP 26.1305In Montana
6
1.3%
1$29,460$23,480
9
CIP 26.0305In Montana
3
0.7%
1$33,009$21,975
10
CIP 26.9999In Montana
2
0.4%
1$31,278$23,000
11
CIP 26.0702In Montana
2
0.4%
1$28,266$24,393
12
CIP 26.0204In Montana
1
0.2%
1$38,243$23,014
13
CIP 26.1310In Montana
1
0.2%
1$29,460$23,480

Top 12 schools in Montana

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 4 of the 12 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Montana State University
Bozeman, MT Public · 7 feeder programs
272Biology/Biological Sciences, General$29,43557%82%
2The University of Montana
Missoula, MT Public · 6 feeder programs
71Biology/Biological Sciences, General$43,91448%96%
3Montana Technological University
Butte, MT Public · 2 feeder programs
24Biology/Biological Sciences, General58%91%
4Carroll College
Helena, MT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
21Biology/Biological Sciences, General$35,15769%$21,44071%
5Rocky Mountain College
Billings, MT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
15Biology/Biological Sciences, General$27,91248%$17,36970%
6University of Providence
Great Falls, MT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
14Biology/Biological Sciences, General28%$20,50050%
7The University of Montana - Western
Dillon, MT Public · 2 feeder programs
13Ecology51%100%
8Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT Public · 1 feeder programs
7Biology/Biological Sciences, General30%
9Salish Kootenai College
Pablo, MT Public · 2 feeder programs
4Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology28%
10Aaniiih Nakoda College
Harlem, MT Public · 1 feeder programs
3Ecology34%
11Flathead Valley Community College
Kalispell, MT Public · 1 feeder programs
1Biotechnology29%
12Montana State University - Northern
Havre, MT Public · 1 feeder programs
1Biology/Biological Sciences, General41%

All 12 schools in Montana

Every school in Montana with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Montana that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Montana State UniversityBozemanPublic2727
The University of MontanaMissoulaPublic716
Montana Technological UniversityButtePublic242
Carroll CollegeHelenaPrivate not-for-profit211
Rocky Mountain CollegeBillingsPrivate not-for-profit151
University of ProvidenceGreat FallsPrivate not-for-profit141
The University of Montana - WesternDillonPublic132
Montana State University BillingsBillingsPublic71
Salish Kootenai CollegePabloPublic42
Aaniiih Nakoda CollegeHarlemPublic31
Flathead Valley Community CollegeKalispellPublic11
Montana State University - NorthernHavrePublic11

What biological scientists, all other earn in Montana

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Montana
$91,560
Mean annual
$88,810
Jobs in state
550
What the range looks like
10th pct$60,830Median$91,56090th pct$113,610
Versus the national median
-7.4%

U.S. median $98,920. Montana pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
3.02×

Concentrated here: Montana employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in Montana

Bozeman, MT
$106,330median
70 jobs
Helena, MT
$103,380median
50 jobs
Billings, MT
$94,520median
Missoula, MT
$82,140median
130 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings per year
4,800
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
800
63,700 → 64,500
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Biological Scientists, All Other page.

How to become a Biological Scientist, All Other

Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Top skills

ScienceReading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeaking

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Montana

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Biological Scientists, All Other24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • 26.0204Molecular Biology
  • 26.0207Structural Biology
  • 26.0208Photobiology(no graduates reported)
  • 26.0209Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
  • 26.0210Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • 26.0299Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
  • 26.0301Botany/Plant Biology
  • 26.0305Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
  • 26.0307Plant Physiology
  • 26.0308Plant Molecular Biology
  • 26.0399Botany/Plant Biology, Other
  • 26.0401Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
  • 26.0403Anatomy
  • 26.0404Developmental Biology and Embryology
  • 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • 26.0407Cell Biology and Anatomy
  • 26.0499Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other
  • 26.0503Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
  • 26.0504Virology
  • 26.0505Parasitology
  • 26.0506Mycology
  • 26.0507Immunology
  • 26.0508Microbiology and Immunology
  • 26.0509Infectious Disease and Global Health

Common questions

Answers for people weighing biological scientists, all other programs in Montana.

What degree do you need to become a Biological Scientist, All Other?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 253 degrees in Montana in 2024-25, 56.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Biological Scientist, All Other?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 13 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Ecology, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 446 people a year in Montana.

How much do biological scientists, all other earn in Montana?+

The median is $91,560 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 7.4% below the U.S. median of $98,920. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for biological scientists, all other growing?+

BLS projects a +1.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 4,800 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Montana?+

12 institutions in Montana reported graduates from at least one of the 13 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do biological scientists, all other work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Botanist, Biologist, Scientist, Bioinformaticist, Medical Geneticist, Research Scientist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-1029.

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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